Leeds
Kenton Wright Race Images
Leeds boosted the spirits of his ailing trainer Mike Breslin with success at Te Rapa to show he is on target for his grand final.
The Awapuni four-year-old came with a stout finishing run under apprentice Shaun McKay to narrowly claim Saturday's Garrard's Horse and Hound 1400.
"Mike has planned for the Winter Cup to be his fifth run this time in and it's working out well so far," said part-owner and Wellfield Lodge Manager Peter Didham.
Breslin, who was denied a winning double when Salamanca was narrowly beaten in the following event, was absent from Te Rapa as he is scheduled for surgery on Sunday.
"He thought he was still a football player and he only lasted 20 minutes before he blew his Achilles," Didham said.
A son of I Am Invincible, Leeds has now won five races including the Listed Castletown Stakes as a juvenile.
"Mike and I bought him at the Sydney Classic Sale, we usually get a couple each year to sell on, but he showed so much as a two-year-old that we kept him and got some partners in – Peter Gillespie, Mike Morton and John Heale," Didham said.
Leeds' final outing before the Gr.3 eStar Winter Cup at Riccarton has yet to be confirmed.
"Mike's thoughts were the Whyte Handicap at Trentham or maybe find something suitable down south," Didham said. "The Opunake Cup may be tougher a run before going to Christchurch."
Runner-up at Wanganui at his previous appearance, Leeds settled at the back of the field at Te Rapa before improving widest on the turn and the I Am Invincible gelding finished strongly to score and pip Zorrali by a nose with the favourite Bishopbriggs third. – NZ Racing Desk.
The Awapuni four-year-old came with a stout finishing run under apprentice Shaun McKay to narrowly claim Saturday's Garrard's Horse and Hound 1400.
"Mike has planned for the Winter Cup to be his fifth run this time in and it's working out well so far," said part-owner and Wellfield Lodge Manager Peter Didham.
Breslin, who was denied a winning double when Salamanca was narrowly beaten in the following event, was absent from Te Rapa as he is scheduled for surgery on Sunday.
"He thought he was still a football player and he only lasted 20 minutes before he blew his Achilles," Didham said.
A son of I Am Invincible, Leeds has now won five races including the Listed Castletown Stakes as a juvenile.
"Mike and I bought him at the Sydney Classic Sale, we usually get a couple each year to sell on, but he showed so much as a two-year-old that we kept him and got some partners in – Peter Gillespie, Mike Morton and John Heale," Didham said.
Leeds' final outing before the Gr.3 eStar Winter Cup at Riccarton has yet to be confirmed.
"Mike's thoughts were the Whyte Handicap at Trentham or maybe find something suitable down south," Didham said. "The Opunake Cup may be tougher a run before going to Christchurch."
Runner-up at Wanganui at his previous appearance, Leeds settled at the back of the field at Te Rapa before improving widest on the turn and the I Am Invincible gelding finished strongly to score and pip Zorrali by a nose with the favourite Bishopbriggs third. – NZ Racing Desk.